Many religious groups in America are formed through a complex series of schisms and mergers. As a result, many religious groups share a common historical background even if they now hold substantially different religious beliefs. The religious families listed below organize religious groups based on their religious ancestry or heritage. For more information on the Religion Families and the denominations within each family, please refer to the ARDA's Denominational Family Trees and Profiles: http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/families/trees.asp

A list of families assembled by InfoGroup:

Adventist Family

Anglicanism Family

Baptist Family

Christian Science Family

Communal Family

Eastern Liturgical Family (Orthodox)

European Free-Church Family (Brethren, Mennonites, Quakers, Amish)

Holiness Family

Independent Fundamentalist Family

Judaism Family

Latter-day Saints Family (Mormonism)

Liberal Family

Lutheran Family

Methodist/Pietist Family

Other Groups

Pentecostal Family

Presbyterian-Reformed Family

Spiritualist Family

Western Liturgical Family (Catholicism)

The 233 religious groups and their category placement are as follows:

Denomination Source Reported By InfoGroup

Religious Family

Advent Christian Church

Adventist

Adventists - Other

Adventist

Church of God General Conference

Adventist

Seventh Day Adventists

Adventist

Seventh Day Church of God

Adventist

American Baptist Association

Baptist

American Baptist Churches/USA

Baptist

Baptist General Conference

Baptist

Baptist - Other

Baptist

Baptist Bible Fellowship

Baptist

Baptist Missionary Association of America

Baptist

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Baptist

Independent Baptist Churches

Baptist

Conservative Baptist Association

Baptist

Free Will Baptists

Baptist

General Assoc. of Regular Baptists

Baptist

Assoc. of General Baptists

Baptist

General Association of Separatist Baptists

Baptist

National Baptist Convention of America

Baptist

National Baptist Convention-USA

Baptist

North American Baptist Conference

Baptist

Primitive Baptists

Baptist

Progressive National Baptist Convention

Baptist

Seventh Day Baptist Gen. Conference

Baptist

Southern Baptist Convention

Baptist

Southwide Baptist Fellowship

Baptist

United Baptist

Baptist

World Baptist Fellowship

Baptist

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Methodist

African Methodist Episcopal Zion

Methodist

African Union Methodist Protestant

Methodist

Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

Methodist

Congregational Methodist Church

Methodist

Evangelical Congregational Church

Methodist

Evangelical Methodist Church

Methodist

Independent Methodist Churches

Methodist

Methodist - Other

Methodist

Primitive Methodist Church

Methodist

Reformed Zion Union Apostolic

Methodist

Southern Methodist Church

Methodist

United Methodist Church

Methodist

American Association of Lutheran Church

Lutheran

Apostolic Lutheran Church of America

Lutheran

Association of Free Lutheran Congregations

Lutheran

Church of Lutheran Confession

Lutheran

Church of the Lutheran Brethren

Lutheran

Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Lutheran

Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church

Lutheran

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Lutheran

Lutheran - Other

Lutheran

Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod

Lutheran

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran

Lutheran

Association Reformed Presbyterian Church

Presbyterian/Reformed

Bible Presbyterian Church

Presbyterian/Reformed

Christian Reformed Church

Presbyterian/Reformed

Churches of God (Findlay, OH)

Presbyterian/Reformed

Congregational Christian Churches

Presbyterian/Reformed

Conservative Congregation Christian Conference

Presbyterian/Reformed

Cumberland Presbyterian Church

Presbyterian/Reformed

Evangelical Presbyterian Church

Presbyterian/Reformed

Free Reformed Churches of North America

Presbyterian/Reformed

Free Presbyterian Church

Presbyterian/Reformed

Orthodox Presbyterian Church

Presbyterian/Reformed

Presbyterian Church in America

Presbyterian/Reformed

Presbyterian/Reformed - Other

Presbyterian/Reformed

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Presbyterian/Reformed

Protestant Reformed Churches

Presbyterian/Reformed

Reformed Church in America

Presbyterian/Reformed

Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America

Presbyterian/Reformed

Reformed Church in the USA

Presbyterian/Reformed

Cumberland Presbyterian Ch in America

Presbyterian/Reformed

United Church of Christ

Presbyterian/Reformed

United Reformed Churches in North America

Presbyterian/Reformed

Maranatha Christian Churches

Pentecostal

Apostolic Church of Pentecost

Pentecostal

Apostolic Churches - Other

Pentecostal

Apostolic Faith Church

Pentecostal

Apostolic Overcoming Holy Church

Pentecostal

Assemblies of God

Pentecostal

Bible Way Church of Lord Jesus Christ

Pentecostal

Calvary Chapel

Pentecostal

Christian Church of North America

Pentecostal

Church of God (Cleveland, TN)

Pentecostal

Church of God of Prophecy

Pentecostal

Church of God - Mountain Assembly

Pentecostal

Church of God - Other

Pentecostal

Church of God By Faith

Pentecostal

Church of God in Christ

Pentecostal

Congregational Holiness Church, Inc.

Pentecostal

Church of the Living God

Pentecostal

Church of the Lord Jesus Christ

Pentecostal

Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of Apostolic Faith

Pentecostal

Deliverance Churches

Pentecostal

Church On the Rock

Pentecostal

Seventh Day Pentecostal

Pentecostal

Word Churches

Pentecostal

Elim Fellowship

Pentecostal

Faith Christian Fellowship

Pentecostal

Fire-Baptized Holiness Church

Pentecostal

First Church of Jesus Christ

Pentecostal

Full Gospel Fellowship

Pentecostal

Hall Deliverance Foundation

Pentecostal

International Foursquare Gospel

Pentecostal

International Pentecostal Church of Christ

Pentecostal

Association of Vineyard Churches

Pentecostal

Liberty Fellowship of Churches

Pentecostal

Open Bible Standard Churches

Pentecostal

Church of God (Original)

Pentecostal

Pentecostal Assemblies of the World

Pentecostal

Pentecostal Church of God

Pentecostal

Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church

Pentecostal

International Pentecostal Holiness Church

Pentecostal

Pentecostal - Other

Pentecostal

United House of Prayer

Pentecostal

United Christian Church

Pentecostal

United Pentecostal Church

Pentecostal

Victory Churches International

Pentecostal

Liberal Catholic Churches

Catholic

Polish National Catholic Church

Catholic

Roman Catholic Church

Catholic

Convents/Rectories/Monasteries

Catholic

Brethren - Other

Brethren

Fellowship of Grace Brethren

Brethren

Church of the Brethren

Brethren

Old German Baptist Brethren Church

Brethren

United Brethren in Christ

Brethren

Berean Fundamental Churches

Independent Fundamentalist

Church of the Open Door

Independent Fundamentalist

Independent Bible Churches

Independent Fundamentalist

Fundamental Bible Churches

Independent Fundamentalist

Grace Gospel Fellowship

Independent Fundamentalist

Independent Fundamental Churches

Independent Fundamentalist

Plymouth Brethren

Independent Fundamentalist

Anglican - Other

Episcopal

Anglican Episcopal of North America

Episcopal

Charismatic Episcopal Church

Episcopal

Episcopal Church

Episcopal

Anglican Orthodox Church

Episcopal

Reformed Episcopal Church

Episcopal

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Christian/Church of Christ

Christian & Churches of Christ

Christian/Church of Christ

Christian - Other

Christian/Church of Christ

Churches of Christ (Non-Instrumental)

Christian/Church of Christ

Church of God in Christ, Mennonite

Mennonite

Conservative Mennonite Fellowship

Mennonite

Amish (Mennonite)

Mennonite

Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference

Mennonite

Brethren in Christ

Mennonite

Mennonite Church USA

Mennonite

Mennonite Brethren Church

Mennonite

Church of Jesus Christ - Latter-day Saints

Latter-day Saints

Community of Christ (RLDS)

Latter-day Saints

Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist

Holiness

American Rescue Workers

Holiness

Apostolic Christian (Nazarean)

Holiness

Bible Methodist Connection

Holiness

Christian & Missionary Alliance

Holiness

Ch. of Christ in Christian Union

Holiness

Church of God (Anderson, IN)

Holiness

Churches of God (Independent Holiness)

Holiness

Church of God (Holiness)

Holiness

Pillar of Fire

Holiness

Evangelical Christian Church

Holiness

Evangelical Church of North America

Holiness

Free Methodist Church of North America

Holiness

Grace and Hope Mission

Holiness

Holiness - Other

Holiness

Missionary Church

Holiness

Mount Calvary Holy Church of America

Holiness

National Association of Holiness Churches

Holiness

Church of the Nazarene

Holiness

Rescue Mission

Holiness

Salvation Army

Holiness

Triumph the Church/Kingdom of God

Holiness

Wesleyan Church

Holiness

Christian Science Churches

Metaphysical

Swedenborgian Churches

Metaphysical

Metaphysical - Other

Metaphysical

National Spiritualist Association

Metaphysical

Spiritual Science Churches

Metaphysical

Spiritualist Churches/Organizations

Metaphysical

United Church of Religious Science

Metaphysical

Unity School of Christianity

Metaphysical

Church of Scientology

Metaphysical

Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America

Orthodox

American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox

Orthodox

Antiochian Orthodox Christian

Orthodox

Armenian Apostolic Church

Orthodox

Armenian Church of America

Orthodox

Byelorussian Orthodox

Orthodox

Greek Orthodox Church

Orthodox

Eastern Orthodox - Other

Orthodox

Orthodox Church in America

Orthodox

Romanian Orthodox Episcopate

Orthodox

Russian Orthodox Church

Orthodox

Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church

Orthodox

Ukranian Orthodox Church

Orthodox

Jewish - Other

Jewish

Orthodox Jewish Congregations

Jewish

Reconstructionist Jewish Congregations

Jewish

Reform Jewish Congregations

Jewish

Conservative Jewish Congregations

Jewish

Christadelphians

Evangelical Misc

International Council Community Churches

Evangelical Misc

Evangelical Covenant Church

Evangelical Misc

Evangelical Free Church

Evangelical Misc

Evangelical - Other

Evangelical Misc

Federated Church

Evangelical Misc

Friends (Quakers)

Evangelical Misc

Military Chapels

Evangelical Misc

Metropolitan Community Churches

Evangelical Misc

Moravian Church in America

Evangelical Misc

Neighborhood Churches

Evangelical Misc

Non-Denominational Churches

Evangelical Misc

Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations

Evangelical Misc

Schwenkfelder Church

Evangelical Misc

United/Union Churches

Evangelical Misc

Worldwide Church of God

Evangelical Misc

Non Classified Affiliation

Misc/Classified

Baha'i Faith

Misc/Classified

Buddhist Temples, Zen

Misc/Classified

Eckankar

Misc/Classified

Hindu Temples

Misc/Classified

Jehovah's Witnesses

Misc/Classified

Krishna

Misc/Classified

Miscellaneous Cults and Sects

Misc/Classified

Muslim/Mohammed/Islam

Misc/Classified

Nichiren Shoshu Temple

Misc/Classified

Sikh Society

Misc/Classified

Miscellaneous Eastern Religions

Misc/Classified

Tenrikyo Churches

Misc/Classified

Unification Church

Misc/Classified

Unitarian Universalist Association

Misc/Classified

Yoga Institutes

Misc/Classified

Adventist Family

Churches originating from founder William Miller in the late 19th century, who taught that Christ would soon return to earth and that Saturday rather than Sunday should be observed as the Sabbath. The Adventist family includes the Seventh Day Adventist Church as well as offshoots such as the Advent Christian Church.

Churches originating in England that broke with Roman Catholicism during the 16th century Reformation, while retaining a hierarchical structure. Churches in the Anglican family include the Church of England and the Episcopal Church in the United States.

Baptists are a group of Christian denominations and churches who subscribe to a theology of believer's baptism (as opposed to infant baptism), salvation through faith alone, Scripture alone as the rule of faith and practice, and the autonomy of the local church.

American Baptist Association

American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A.

Baptist Bible Fellowship International

Baptist General Conference

Baptist Missionary Association of America

Conservative Baptist Association of America (CBAmerica)

General Association of General Baptists

General Association of Regular Baptist Churches

General Six-Principle Baptists

Independent Baptist Church of America

Liberty Baptist Fellowship

National Association of Free Will Baptists

National Baptist Convention of America

National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.

National Primitive Baptist Convention, Inc.

North American Baptist Conference

Primitive Baptists

Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.

Regular Baptists

General Association of Separate Baptists in Christ

Seventh Day Baptist General Conference of the United States and Canada

Churches following the teachings of founder Mary Bake Eddy, who believed that personal healing was the central message of Christianity. The largest group in the Christian Science family is the Church of Christ Scientist.

One of the three great divisions of Christianity; the others are the Protestant churches and the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic and Orthodox churches were originally united, but they parted in the eleventh century, when they differed over several points of doctrine, including the supreme authority of the pope, which Orthodox Christians reject.

Churches that emerged out of the Methodist churches in the United States as they sought to restore John Wesley's teachings of personal holiness and total sanctification (perfection). Holiness bodies include the Church of the Nazarene and the various Church of God denominations.

The denominations in this family follow at least some of the teachings of Joseph Smith, Jr., who published the Book of Mormon in 1830. The largest denomination in the family is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), founded in 1830 and currently headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. The next largest is the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints), founded in 1860.

Consists of churches that stress the importance of internal faith, spirituality, and Christian living over adherence to formal creeds and doctrine. The largest among these churches is the United Methodist Church, which follows the teachings of John Wesley, who in the 18th century broke away from the Church of England because of his emphasis on personal holiness.

A movement of churches that emerged in early 20th century America, stressing enthusiastic worship and the restoration of such practices evident in New Testament Christianity, such as speaking in tongues and healing.

(Original) Church of God

Apostolic Faith Mission Church of God

Apostolic Faith Mission of Portland, Oregon

Apostolic Overcoming Holy Church of God

General Council of the Assemblies of God

Association of Vineyard Churches

Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ World Wide, Inc.

Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)

Church of God by Faith, Inc.

Church of God in Christ

Church of God of Prophecy

Church of God, Mountain Assembly, Inc.

Church of our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc.

Church of the Living God (Christian Workers for Fellowship)

Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth

Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith

Congregational Holiness Church

Elim Fellowship

International Church of the Foursquare Gospel

International Pentecostal Church of Christ

Latter House of the Lord for All People and the Church of the Mountain, Apostolic Faith

The Protestant tradition based on the teachings of reformer John Calvin. The Reformed tradition consists both of Presbyterian churches as well as denominations that developed in continental Europe, such as the Dutch and the German Reformed.

Churches and other religious associations teaching that believers can communicate with spirits and the deceased through such practices as seances and other paranormal activities. Churches in the Spiritualist tradition include the Swedenborgian Church and the International General Assembly of Spiritualists.

Western Liturgical Family represented by or originating from the Roman Catholic Church. Such offshoots include the Old Catholic Church and the Polish National Catholic Church, which differ from the Roman Catholic Churchin their rejection of the authority of the pope.